Page:Henry rideout--The siamese cat.djvu/90

 "I say!" he cried, in a curious tone of surprise. "I am flayed a bit, eh?"

"You must have run through Mr. Scarlett's thorns," said the girl.

"Of course!" he boomed. "That was it. 'Jumped into a bramble-bush!' Well, rather!"

He returned to the tiffin-baskets as though nothing had happened.

"Did you—I hope you didn't hurt that poor thief," Laura continued, stroking the ruffled cat.

"Er—no," said Borkman over his shoulder, as he stooped. "Er—by Jove, the ice has gone futt—clean melted. I dropped it in the sun. Why, that chap got away clear, Miss. He could run, if you like. Saw game was up—dropped the cat—off like a shot. This heat, too, poor devil—my word, he ran!"

The excitement over, he became once more a subdued professional guide and handy man,